Access course completed

[Deleted User]

cardiffforthefacup wrote: »

If you want to stay in the swing of things maybe you could find out the books on your reading list and have a quick perusal, a little light reading with no pressure!!!

I've not had anything from my uni yet, going to an open day in a few weeks, where would I get a book list from? I've got a few books, don't know if htey'll be any use to me, just one or two I've picked up when I saw them going cheap

SL x

cardiffforthefacup

Sometimes they give you a list when you go on the open day, depending on the course. But if you find out what units you will have in your first semester you can go from there, and ask the various tutors, they usually have a main text they work from. But it is only to get a general feel of things as sometimes they only cover a couple of chapters and everything else is then not neccessary for that particular unit. If the uni is online? the department descripter usually tells you what units you will cover in each year, you could work from there. Or you could just give yourself a complete break and return to subject matter a week or so before you start, that way you will feel refreshed and ready to study again, never underestimate the need to take a rest from things now and again and put the books away and do something else even if it is meaningless and trivial. When you first go there the first few weeks will be more concerned with getting everyone integrated and I expect some of the work you will probably have already covered in your access course, can't speak for social work. but science courses are just a bit more complex than A level as they need to bring everyone up to the same level, as different examining boards have different syllabuses, so not everyone would have studied the subjects and maybe others may have a good knowledge of a lot of the work, it soon gets more complex though when deadlines and exams get close together. Don't forget everyone else is in the same boat and some of the younger students I have found have covered less in their A levels than mature students, so I expect you will be relied upon for much needed input at some point or other,

lilysgarden

Hey SL,

Congrats of finishing the access course and good luck in September! I've just this week handed in my dissertation for the social work degree and now have the fun of finding a job. And trust, it will get a hell of a lot harder over the next three years. But enjoy the first cos it's by far the easiest!!!

As for reading lists, email the Head of the social work department asking if they've been prepared yet. If they have, get reading them now. It'll keep you in the loop ready for september and give you an amazing advantage! But don't even attempt to buy all the books on the reading list (I've had up to around 150 plus books on reading lists before now!). If you can, email the tutors that are named for that modult and ask them to recommend the most useful books. You'll usually find you end up with the same books throughout the degree!

Good luck, Nikki:beer:

cardiffforthefacup

I expect you can get most useful books from library, I have managed to avoid bbuying any text books so far, just a matter of taking them out of the library early and keep renewing

[Deleted User]

lilysgarden wrote: »

Hey SL,

Congrats of finishing the access course and good luck in September! I've just this week handed in my dissertation for the social work degree and now have the fun of finding a job. And trust, it will get a hell of a lot harder over the next three years. But enjoy the first cos it's by far the easiest!!!

As for reading lists, email the Head of the social work department asking if they've been prepared yet. If they have, get reading them now. It'll keep you in the loop ready for september and give you an amazing advantage! But don't even attempt to buy all the books on the reading list (I've had up to around 150 plus books on reading lists before now!). If you can, email the tutors that are named for that modult and ask them to recommend the most useful books. You'll usually find you end up with the same books throughout the degree!

Good luck, Nikki:beer:

Congratulations on finishing your degree. I bet your so proud.:T I'm sure finding a job will be fine.

Thanks for the advise on the reading lists too I will do all the things you suggested.
Good luck with the job hunting

SL x

Oldernotwiser

cardiffforthefacup wrote: »

I expect you can get most useful books from library, I have managed to avoid bbuying any text books so far, just a matter of taking them out of the library early and keep renewing

That's not a very considerate way of doing things; are you sure you're cut out for social work?

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's not a very considerate way of doing things; are you sure you're cut out for social work?

I thought it was a tad selfish at first and then I remembered we can reserve books at out uni and prevent the holder renewing them.

It can still take two weeks though as they won't recall them before they are due back and then half the time people still keep hold of them because the paltry fines are significantly less than the cost of buying the book, or photocopying the relevent bits!!

It's frustrating to say the least!

lilysgarden

cardiffforthefacup wrote: »

I expect you can get most useful books from library, I have managed to avoid bbuying any text books so far, just a matter of taking them out of the library early and keep renewing

From experience on the social work degree, don't rely on that technique!!!! My best advice is to get a group of people you get on well with (inductions the perfect week to find those you'd most like to hang out with!) and get a book club going. Each member of the group buys an agreed book from the reading list and you all share them. It can get complicated and you need to be willing to take them to the next person at short notice, but it saves a fortune. Another thing I've done is where we only need a chapter or 2 from a book, just photocopy that chapter to read at home. My first year at uni, there were over 60 social work students, all covering the psychology, sociology, law modules etc. Add that to the other 1000+ atudents trying to get hold of the same 5 copies of a particular psychology book, it's a case of survival of the fittest!

Only other option is to buy books from the second hand sellers on amazon as soon as you know you need that book. As soon as lots of people start searching for that book, the price goes up and the used copies sell fastest. As soon as you know you need it, buy! I have fond memories of the last three years of everyone running from lectures to the library. Not to get the books off the shelves, but to get online and grab the bargains! Also see, if there's a notice board where you can advertise that your looking to buy books. Not all of the books you'll need will HAVE to be particular editions (unlike some other degree's) so you can get away with some older books. If you wanna know which social work books I've relied on for the last 4 years, let me know and I'll happily message you!

lilysgarden

Sallylizzie wrote: »

Congratulations on finishing your degree. I bet your so proud.:T I'm sure finding a job will be fine.

Thanks for the advise on the reading lists too I will do all the things you suggested.
Good luck with the job hunting

SL x

Thanks and all the best again with yours! Believe me, it's very rewarding at the end, even if it doesn't seem so over the next few years!!! And feel free to shout if you want any advice/ help etc. I'm well aware of how stressful it's gonna be for the next 3 years!!!!:eek:

[Deleted User]

lilysgarden wrote: »

Thanks and all the best again with yours! Believe me, it's very rewarding at the end, even if it doesn't seem so over the next few years!!! And feel free to shout if you want any advice/ help etc. I'm well aware of how stressful it's gonna be for the next 3 years!!!!:eek:

Thank you, that's really kind of you, and advice on books duely noted!!:D

SL x